Volu 3, Part 4, The Superpower
Editor: Tseirp
Darwei Ministry of Rites’ Deputy Minister of Matrimonial Affairs, Snus, had a bitter face since the morning.
“What an utter failure!”
How many tis had he muttered that phrase by now?
The docunt in his hand listed the nas of seventy individuals.
These were all mbers of the escort team for the princess.
At the sa ti, they were also the ones who were withdrawing from their duty.
“Seventy escorts all experiencing severe stomach pain at once— it’s unheard of…”
As he spoke, Deputy Minister Snus literally held his head in his hands.
Snus, aged 41.
Belonged to the Ministry of Rites, which managed ceremonies and festivals. In his youth, he served in the Imperial Guard, the emperor’s elite corps.
Even after transitioning to the Ministry of Rites, he often led escort missions for nobles and transported valuables, as in this case.
His impressive physique and the neat black hair tied up and secured with a crown made for a dignified appearance. It even earned him personal praise from the emperor. He was regarded as a promising talent in the Ministry of Rites.
And then…
This ti, the mission involved escorting the woman who would beco the official wife of the Sixth Prince.
The journey also served as an introduction, with nurous events planned in the towns along the way.
Of course, since much of the journey was by ship, the schedule allowed for flexibility in case of weather-related delays.
However, that was for the latter half.
The first stop, the port town of Randa—just a day from Jonjon in Bosuntar—did not allow for such leeway…
In long journeys, it was expected that so mbers might fall ill and have to withdraw temporarily.
Such situations were accounted for.
With plans for them to rejoin later.
But for seventy escorts to withdraw simultaneously was entirely beyond expectations.
A knock on the door announced the arrival of Secretary Bal.
“Your Excellency, an additional ten escorts have…”
Bal trailed off, unable to continue.
As the despair of his superior was palpable.
“The princess is scheduled for a banquet today with Randa’s governor and local dignitaries, correct?”
“Yes. She is staying overnight and set to depart from Randa tomorrow morning.”
“And the healers? Their opinions remain unchanged?”
“They’re consistent. While healing magic alleviates the symptoms, the condition worsens as soon as the magic is removed. They’ve confird it’s not a natural stomach ailnt.”
Snus let out another deep sigh at Bal’s report.
It was confird—this was either sabotage or a deliberate act of interference.
Which ant further disruptions were likely.
“Eighty of the hundred escorts, gone at the first stop…”
Saying it aloud only underscored the gravity of the situation.
The journey to the imperial capital, Hanlin, spanned over a month with stops at several towns.
Naturally, they would need to replenish the guards along the way.
Reinforcents could be sent from the Ministry of Rites, but it would take ti.
Borrowing soldiers from local lords or governors was out of the question.
As most were aligned with one of the three imperial factions… there was no telling what might happen if he relied on such forces.
“Would adventurers be better?”
“Your Excellency?”
“Never mind… a report has already been sent to the Ministry of Rites requesting reinforcents. If they act quickly, they’ll et us in Boago City, where we dock in a week. We just need to manage until then. Fortunately, Bosuntar’s side has provided 200 guards. Given that the princess was embroiled in an incident within their borders, the number is understandable. We’ll rely on them for her imdiate protection and use adventurers to fill roles… such as carrying supplies.”
Deputy Minister Snus spoke slowly as he formulated his thoughts.
However, Secretary Bal tilted his head and objected.
“There’s no precedent for hiring adventurers to supplent a noble’s guard.”
“Exactly. That’s why it works.”
“What?”
“Whoever orchestrated this interference likely assus we’ll replenish the guards with soldiers from Governor Randa. That’s what precedent suggests. If I were in their shoes, I’d plant assassins among those soldiers in advance.”
“Ah, I see. So you’re proposing to hire adventurers, which the perpetrator wouldn’t expect.”
“Precisely.”
Ideas rapidly took shape in Deputy Minister Snus’s mind.
“Bal, contact the local Adventurers’ Guild imdiately. Post a request for eighty guards for the journey to the imperial capital. Avoid ntioning the princess or the Ministry of Rites. We’ll inform them during the briefing. Gather them all by today, so we can depart as scheduled tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“I will inform the princess myself.”
“I understand the situation. I’ll leave everything to you.”
After finishing the banquet with Randa’s governor, Princess Shio Fen responded to Snus’s direct report in this manner.
The setting was the state guest house in Randa.
Where the princess remained stationary while the governor and influential figures visited her instead, for security reasons.
Though the stops at many towns were supposed to serve as a ceremonial introduction, her maid, Mifa, wondered whether the townsfolk would have the chance to see the princess at all.
“My marriage seems to involve all sorts of complications.”
Princess Shio Fen remarked with a laugh, whispering to Mifa beside her.
“Shio-sama, this is no laughing matter…”
Mifa replied with a frown.
“I know, but what can we do? Darwei has promised to provide replacents for the eighty guards.”
“Even so, they’ve also requested a reassignnt. Bosuntar guards will now be stationed closer to you. Implying that the replacents might not be entirely trustworthy. We need to be more vigilant than ever.”
“You worry too much, Mifa…”
That evening, after all of Princess Shio Fen’s official banquets had concluded.
“Your Highness, the reassignnt has been completed.”
With those words, Bizis handed two docunts to Princess Shio Fen.
Bizis was the captain of the princess’s guard from the Bosuntar side.
Bizis was forrly the vice-captain of the Queen’s Royal Guard in Bosuntar.
And a 28-year-old woman.
Her long hair, dark but glimring with a blue tint in a certain light, was tied at the back of her head. Standing at an impressive 180 centiters, she was tall for a woman, making her popular with people of all genders.
Though she was part of the princess’s escort, Bizis planned to return to Bosuntar after safely delivering Princess Shio Fen to the imperial capital, Hanlin. This mission would be her last in the Queen’s Royal Guard.
As her father had decided to retire and transfer the title of Count Jujang to her.
At 18, Bizis joined the Queen’s Royal Guard and had served for a decade.
This mission—escorting the Queen’s third daughter, Princess Shio Fen, for her engagent—was a direct request from the Queen herself.
Typically, in Bosuntar, a princess of such rank being sent abroad for marriage would be escorted by the King’s Royal Guard.
However, due to certain circumstances, that was not possible this ti.
The head of the King’s Royal Guard, who held the title of ‘Sword of the Nation’.
Had been Lord Vogue until a few weeks ago.
But Lord Vogue, of all people, had been complicit in the attack on Princess Shio Fen…
There was no way the Queen could entrust her daughter’s safety to a unit led by soone from such an organization!
Normally graceful, composed, and disinterested in political matters, the Queen adamantly refused to agree to this.
As a compromise, the King proposed forming a mixed escort team led by the Queen’s Royal Guard instead of the King’s.
The Queen’s Royal Guard consisted of only about 200 mbers.
While the Queen had been willing to dispatch all of them, this was deed impractical.
Instead, a mixed escort unit was ford: 30 from the Queen’s Royal Guard, led by Vice-Captain Bizis, and 170 from the King’s Royal Guard.
With Bizis appointed as its captain.
The Queen insisted on outfitting the entire escort of 200 with leather armor dyed pure white.
Though composed of mbers from two separate organizations, they must cooperate seamlessly to fulfill their duty of protecting the princess.
At the sa ti, a clear chain of command was essential.
The Queen herself devised this strategy to ensure their unity and efficiency.
So far, the plan has succeeded. The 200 guards have ford strong bonds and work well together.
Bizis, as captain of the escort, was relieved by this cohesion.
“I understand, Bizis. Thank you for your efforts.”
Princess Shio Fen said as she reviewed the docunts.
Unlike many royals and high nobles, who would skim such docunts or not read them at all.
Princess Shio Fen read them thoroughly and asked questions about anything unclear.
This ticulousness pleased Bizis.
And made her feel that Princess Shio Fen, like the Queen, was soone worth risking her life to protect.
“Your Excellency, we’ve managed to gather eighty people.”
“Well done, Bal. That ans we can depart tomorrow morning.”
“Yes. The adventurers are currently having dinner in the second dining hall.”
Snus’s body trembled slightly at this news, though he quickly composed himself.
“Surely, we won’t have another stomach ache incident…”
“We’ve had everything they’re eating inspected by a magician, so it should be fine.”
“I see.”
Snus nodded repeatedly, reassured.
In the second dining hall, eighty adventurers were enjoying the guesthouse’s fine cuisine.
Among them were a swordsman in a black cloak and a water-attribute magician in a robe—but that was a secret for now.
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